Railway-switch-operating apparatus



1931- c. w. DALZELL ET AL RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1950 2. Sheets-$he l 1 4 I: II. 5 500 w M34 8., 3 a 5 c3 5 95 b .5 1 WW 0 3% w J 5Q a A M W a 2 5 w M 0- 5 2. 6 2

V2.0; ATTORNEY 1931. c. w. DALZELLET AL 1,795,323

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 !NVENTOR.S

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BY E,G .kfttl a ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE CLARENCE XV. DALZELL AND 'EDWIN G. LITTLE, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- SIGNOBS TO THE UNIQN SWITCH SIGNAL CGMPAZTY, OF S'WISSVALE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY-SWITCE-QPERATING APPARATUS Application filed 31113 24,

Gur invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus, and has for an object the provision of novel and improved means for permitting manual operation of a power operating switch.

e will-describe one form-of apparatus embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

the accompanying drawings, F ig. 1 is atop plan view showing one form of apparatus-embodying our invention with the cover ofth'e housing removed: and withcertain parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the constructionthereof. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line III1"of Fig. 1. Fig. 3-is a bottom view of the bevel gear 17 forming part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4: isa top View of the sleeve 2'1 forming a part of the clutch mechanism {M for at timesconnectingsthe. shaft 6 with-the bevel gear 17 of the apparatus-shown in Figs. 1v and 2. Fig. 5' is'adetai'l View illustrating'the worm wheel 9 forming. a partofthe apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. G ls-a bottom view of the sleeve 28 forming a part of the clutch mechanism M for at times connecting the shaft 6 with 'the worm wheel 9 of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar reference charactersrefer to similar partsfln each of the. several views.

Referring; first to F igs. 1 and 2, the reference character- 1 designatesa housing provided with a removablecover 2 and adapted to mounted adjacent a railway track switch. The housingl is formed with a bear ing 3 in the bottom thereof,.and with a hearing. 4' supported by a bracket 5 which is secured to the side walls of the housing 1. A vertically extending switch actuating shaft 6 is journalled in thebearings 3 and l, and'this shaft terminates at its lower end in a crank 7 provided with a downwardly projecting crankpin 8. This crankand pin cooperate with suitable apparatus for actuating and locking a railway switch, whichapparatus is notshownin'the accompanying drawing but which may, for example,'be similar to the apparatus shown in Letters Patent of-the United States, No. 1,293,290, granted to William 1930. Serial No. 470,?154.

Zabelon February 4, 1919, for railway tratic controlling apparatus. In the said patent, the crank .55 and pin 58 correspond respectively to the crank 7 and the pin 8 in the present disclosure.

A worm wheel 9 is mounted for rotation coaxially with the shaft 6 and is formed with a hub 10 for seatingengagement within a suitable step bearing 11 provided in the upper portion of the bearing 3. This gear is driven by a worm 12 fixed to a jack shaft 13 which is journaledrin bearings 14 providedin the walls of the housing. 1. The jack shaft 13 is operably connected with power driving means such as an electric motor 15, through suitable reduction gearingindicated inthe drawing by the dash lines 16.

A bevel gear 17 is also mounted for rotation coaXially with the shaft 6 andis provided in its upper face with an annular-recess 17 which cooperates withathrust bearing 18 formed on the lower side of the bracket 5 to prevent vertical and axial displacement of the bevel gear. Vertical and axial displacement ofthe bevel gear 17 is also prevented by a bushing 19 which is interposed between the bevel gear and the reduced upper end 20 of the shaft, and which cooperates at one'end with a circular shoulder 21 formed integral with the bevel gear and at the other end. with a shoulder .22 formed at the bottom of the reduced upper end 29 of the shaft. The bevel gear 17 meshes with a second bevel gear which is fixed to a horizontal shaft 2% mounted in a boss in the wall of the casing 1. This shaft projects through the wall of the casingand carr-ies at its outer end a hand lever 26 which is at times used for manual operation of the switch.

lilanually operable means are provided for selectively connecting the worm wheel 9 or the bevel, gear 17 with the switch actuating shaft 6, so that the switch maybe operated either by the electric motor 15 or by the'hand lever 26. A. here shown, these means comprise a clutch mechanism M consisting of two sleeves 27 and 28 whichare mounted on theshaft 6 forverticalsliding movement, but which are constrained to rotate withthe shaft by means of integral internal splines 30 which cooperate with corresponding splines 3O formed on the shaft, as best seen in Figs. l and (3. The confronting ends of the sleeves and 28 are formed with annular recesses and 31, respectively, and with circumferential flanges 32 and 32". A clutch collar comprising two cylindrical members 33 and 23?)" screwed, together, surrounds the sleeves 27 and 28 at the flanges 3i and 32 with slight clearance, and is provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending circular shoulder 33 which overlies the circular flange 32, and at lower end, with a similar inwardly extending circular shoulder 33 which underlies the circular flange 32". The sleeves are constantly urged apart by coil spring 34%, the rnper and lower ends of which are located in the recesses 31 and 31 respectively.

is oest seen in Fig. 4:, the upper end of the sleeve 2'? is provided with teeth 35, 35... It will be noted that, as here shown. the angular distance between each two adjacent teeth 35 is 23, except that the angular distance between the teeth 35 and 35 68. The angular length of each tooth 95, as here shown, is 22. The lower face of the bevel gear 17 is likewise provided with teeth 36, 36 36* as shown in Fig. 3. Each of these latter teeth, as here shown, has an angular length of 22 with the exception of the tooth 36 which has an angular length of (57 The angular space between each two adjacent teeth 36, as here shown, is 23. It follows that the teeth 35 on the sleeve 27 will lit between the teeth 36 on the bevel gear 17 when and only when the space between the teeth 35 and 35 on the sleeve is opposite the tooth 2-36 on the bevel gear. The parts are so proportioned that this relation will exist when and only when the hand lever and the switch occupy corresponding relative positions.

Of course, the described dimensions of the teeth on sleeve J and gear 17 are not essential. as any other proportions of parts can be employed which will permit mating of the gear and sleeve only when the hand lever and the switrh occupy the proper relative positions.

The lower end of the sleeve 28 is also formed with teeth 37. These teeth are evenly spaced about the end of the sleeve, as best seen in Fig. (3. and are arranged to cooperate with similar teeth 38 formed on the upper face of the worm wheel 9 as shown in Fig.

It follows from the foregoing that when the clutch mechanism M is in one longitudinal position on the shaft 6, the teeth on the lower end of the sleeve 28 connect the worm wheel 9 with the shaft 6, whereas, when the clutch mechanism is in another longitudinal position on the shaft, the teeth on the upper end of the sleeve 27 connect the bevel gear 17 with the shaft 6.

The clutch mechanism M is moved longitudinally on the shaft 6 in order to effect the desired driving connection between the bevel gear 17 and the shaft, or between the worm wheel 9 and the shaft, by means of a shifter lever 39 comprising two spaced triangular arms 39 and 39 connected intermediate their ends by a yoke 39. This shifter lever is pivotally mounted at one end on bolts all which are threaded into a boss l1 formed in the side wall of the casing 1, and the arms thereof extend inwardly in a substantially horizontal direction on opposite sides of the collar 33 to a position beyond the vertical axis of the collar, and are each provided at their inner ends with a pair of spaced rollers 42 which engage the upper and lower edges of the collar 33 at both sides of the collar. The yoke 39 of the shifter lever is formed with two cam engaging surfaces 43 anr. 44. which, best seen in Fig. 2, taper toward the axis about which shifter lever 39 oscillates, and these surfaces cooperate with a conical pin 45 formed on the inner end of a horizontal shaft to which is journalled in the boss 41. The conical pin 45 is eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the shaft 7 46, and is so arranged that its elements, if extended, would converge substantially at the axis about which the shifter lever 39 oscillates. The shaft 46 extends through the side wall of the casing 1 and is provided atits outer end with a selector lever 47 by means of which the shaft may at times be oscillated.

The inner end of the shaft 46 is also pro vided with a cam 48 which operates a circuit controller 49 through the medium of a pivotally mounted yoke 50. a crank 51, and a push rod 52. This circuit controller a9 may be employed to govern the supply of current to the electric motor 15. v

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Normally the selector lever l? occupies a position in which the pin 45 is at the lowest point in its path of movement. Under these conditions, the pin engages the am surface l3 of the shifter lever 39 and holds this lever in its lowermost position. lVhen the shifter lever occupies this position, the upper roller 42 on each of the arms and 39" engages the upper edge of collar 33 and exerts a downward force on the collar which is transmitted through the shoulder 33, flange 32, and coil spring 3st to the lower sleeve therein. holding this sleeve in the position in which the teeth 37 on the sleeve mesh with the teeth. 38 on the worm wheel 9. The worm wheel is therefore operatively connected with the switch actuating shaft (3 so that the apparatus is in condition for operation of the switch by the electric motor 15. At such ti'nes, the bevel gear 17 is :apablc of rotating freely with respect to the. shaft (3 so that this gear is disconnected from the shaft. with the result that the hand lever is discoin nected from the switch. in order to disconlit) Elill llll) nect the motor from, and connect the hand lever with, the switch, the selector lever 4'? is swung through 180 so that the pin 45 movement. This rotation of the pin causesthe shift-er lever and hence, the collar :3 to move to their uppermost positions. Dur ing the movemento'ifthecollar 33 to its uppermost position, its lower shoulder 33 engages the flange 32*011 the. sleeve-28, thereby positively moving the sleeve 28- upwardly to, a po, i on} in whichethe teeth on the sleeve a re-disengaged trom tne teeth 38 on the Worn'i wheel, sothat the. wonm wheel is then free torota'te withr-e met to the shaft. Furthermore, during the mo ementof the collar to its uppermost pos 1011, the sleeve 27 moved upwardly by virtue ofthe force transmitted. throu-gl the spring- 84 and, it the position of'the sw hand hand lever then corre spond so that the long tooth 36 -011 the bevelv gear 17 isoppositevthelong space lie-tween the teeth 35 and on the sleeve the teeth on the sleeve and the teeth on the bevelgear will mesh. 'llhe bevel gear will then be con-- nested with the-smatt- 6 so that the switch maybe'operated by swinging-the hand lever from one position to the-other. If, l1o1vever,

the position-of theiswitch and the hand lever do not corlgespond. when the collar is being moved upwa gdly, so that the long tooth 86 on the bevel gear 17 is not opposite the long spaoeybeti n the-teeth, 35? and 36 on the sleeve 27, then when the collar -hasmoved upwardly-a comparatively short distanoe, the flat ends of the teeth35 on, the sleeve 27 will engage the "flat ends of, -tl.e teethf36 on the bevel gear 117, and, during-the remainder of a the upward,movement of, the collar, spring 3% will become compressed, It, will be apparent, therefore, that; under these condi-l tions, the hand lever will not become con,- nected with the switch until; the hand lever ,5 is moved tosthc position corresponding toithe position of the sw itch, :at which time lill elle orgy store jlin the spring Siwi ll completethe up ard movementof the sleeve 27, thereby causing the. teeth on the/sleeve to mesh with 1- the teeth on the bevelgear, and hence p-ermit ders'tood without describing it in detail. It should be noted, however, that since the teeth on the sleeve :28 and the teeth on the worm wheel 9,-a-re evenly spaced, these teeth will mesh except when the ends of the teeth are directly opposite each other, at which time they will mesh as soon as the motor rotates the worm wheel through an angle corresponding to the width o-fone tooth.

will :be apparent, there-tore, from the foregoing that with switch operating apparatus embodying our invention, the selector @1747 may be thrown to its operating position for either hand or motor operation of the switch regardlesssof whether there is an agreement or a disagreement between the position otthe switch and the position of the operating mechanism. It will. also be ainparcnt that it the hand lever is thrown to its operating position for eitherhand or motor operation of the switch when :a, disagreement between the position of'the switch and the pos ion of the Operating mechanismexists, th vhen thepo-sition of theoperatingmeohanism, is brought into agreement with that of the switch, the desired'connection'bet-Ween the switch and the operating mechanism will be automatically effected.

Although. we have herein shown; andv de "bed-only-one form of railway switch on ng-apparat-usembodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within thescope of'the'a'ppended: claims without departing from the spirit and. scope of-our invention.

Havingthus described-our in-venton, what weclaim is:

1. Railway switch operating apparatus comprisinga rotatable switch actuating shaft, a movablemember associated with said shaft, means for attimes openatingsaid member, a sleeve mount-ed on said shaft to rotate ther with but slidable thereon toward, and away from said member, resilient means .for movingsaid. sleeve'toward said member, means connected directly with said sleeve for moving aid sleeveawayiirom said member, and means associated with saidsleeve for connectingsaid member with said-shaft-if said member andisaid shaft occupy corresponding relative positions when said sleeve is moved toward said member.

2. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a. rotatable switch actuating shai't, -a :gear wheel mounted-concentrically witlirespocti-to saidshaft, means for at times rotating said gear wheel, asleeve mounted onI sa-i d 'sha ttrto rotote t'herewith but slidable thereontowarduand away from said gear wheel, teeth on "said sleeve and said tgear wheel so ai ranged that said teeth will mesh whenisaid-sleeveis moved toward said gear wlicel and connect saidgear wheel to said scribed hereinbeliore, and will be readily 1151 111 shaft if and only if said shaft and said gear wheel occupy one relative position, resilient means for moving said sleeve toward said gear wheel, and means directly connected with said sleeve for moving said sleeve away from said gear wheel.

8. Railway switch operating apparatus conmrising a rotatable switch actuating shaft, a gear wheel mounted concentrically with respect to said shaft, means for at times rotating said gear wheel, a sleeve mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith but slidable thereon toward and away from said gear wheel, teeth on said sleeve and said gear wheel so arranged that said teeth will mesh when said sleeve is moved toward said gear wheel and connect said gear wheel to said shaft if and only if said shaft and said gear wheel occupy one relative position, means including a spring for moving said sleeve toward said gear wheel, and means independent of said spring for moving said sleeve away from said gear wheel.

l. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch actuating shaft. two movable members associated with said shaft, means for independently operating said two members, two sleeves mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith but each slidable thereon between two extreme positions, means associated with one of said sleeves for connecting one of said members with said shaft when said one sleeve occupies its one extreme positon but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, means associated with the other sleeve for connecting the other member with said shaftwhen said other sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, manually operable means for positively moving either of said sleeves from its one extreme position to its other extreme position, and resilient means effective when one such sleeve is moved from its one extreme position to its other extreme position for moving the other such sleeve from its other extreme position to its one extreme position.

5. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch actuating shaft, two movable members associated with said shaft, means for independently operating said two members, two sleeves mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith but each slidable thereon between two extreme positions, means associated with one of said sleeves for connecting one of said members with said shaft when said one sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, means associated with the other sleeve for connecting the other member with said shaft when said other sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, manually operable means for positively moving either of said sleeves from its one extreme position to its other extreme position, and a spring associated with said two sleeves in such manner that when one such sleeve is moved from its one extreme position to its other extreme position the other such sleeve is moved from its other extreme position to its one extreme position by the force transmitted through said spring.

(5. Rail *ay switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch operating shaft, two gears associated with said shaft, means for rotating said two gears independently of each other, two sleeves mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith but each slidable thereon toward and away from an asso ciated one of said gears, means associated with one of said sleeves for engaging the associated gear to connect such gear with said shaft if the associated gear and said shaft occupy one relative position when said one sleeve moved toward the associated gear, means associated with the other sleeve for engaging the associated gear to connect such gear with said shaft when said other sleeve is moved toward the associated gear regardless of the position of such associated gear and the shaft, means directly connected with said two sleeves for moving either of said sleeves away from its associated gear, and resilient means effective when one such sleeve is moved away from its associated gear for moving the other such sleeve toward its associated gear.

7. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch operating shaft, two gears mounted concentrically with respect to said shaft, power mechanism operatively connected with one of said gears, a hand lever operatively connected with the other of said gears, two sleeves mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith but each slidable thereon between two extreme positions, means associated with one of said sleeves for connecting one of said gears with said shaft when said one sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, means associated with the other sleeve for connecting the other gear *ith said shaft when said other sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, manually operable means for moving either of said sleeves from its one extreme position to its other extreme position, and resilient means effective when one such sleeve is moved from its one extreme position to its other extreme position for moving the other such sleeve from its other extreme position to its one extreme position.

8. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch operating shaft, two gears mounted concentrically with respect to said shaft, power mechanism operatively connected with one of said gears, a hand lever operatively connected with the other of said gears, two sleeves mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith but each slidable thereon between two extreme positions, means associated with one of said sleeves for connecting one of said gears with said shaft when said one sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, means associated with the other sleeve for connecting the other gear with said shaft when said other sleeve occupies its one extreme position but not when such sleeve occupies its other extreme position, said last mentioned means being so designed that said other sleeve is prevented from moving to its one extreme position unless said other gear and said shaft occupy one and only one relative position, manually operable means for moving either of said sleeves from its one extreme position to its other extreme position, and resilient means effective when one such sleeve is moved from its one extreme position to its other extreme position for moving the other such sleeve from its other extreme position to its one extreme position.

9. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a splined rotatable switch actuating shaft, a worm wheel and a bevel gear concentrically mounted on said shaft in axial spaced relation, an electric motor operatively connected with said worm wheel, a hand lever operatively connected with said bevel gear, two splined sleeves mounted on said shaft for vertical sliding movement on said shaft in the region between said worm wheel and said bevel gear, each said sleeve being provided at the end which confronts the other said sleeve with an annular recess and with a circumferential flange, a collar surrounding said sleeves at said flanges with some clearance and provided with two in wardly extending circular shoulders each of which cooperates with the outer face of the flange 011 one of said sleeves, a compression spring interposed between said two sleeves and having one end located in the recess in each sleeve, a shifter lever comprising two arms connected together intermediate their ends by a yoke which is provided with two spaced cam surfaces, means for pivotally supporting said lever at one end of said arms in such manner that said arms extend pastthe axis of said collar on opposite sides of said collar, four rollers two attached to the free end of each arm in such manner that one of said rollers engages each end of said collar on both sides of the collar, and a manually operable shaft having an eccentric pin cooperating with said cam surfaces in such manner that oscillation of said shaft causes longitudinal movement of said collar along switch actuating shaft.

10. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch operating shaft, a clutch mechanism comprising two sleeves slidable on said shaft, means for urging said sleeves apart, means for limiting the movement of said sleeves away from each other, two independently operable driving elements, means for moving said clutch mechanism bodily along said shaft to cause engagement of one sleeve with one said driving element or of the other sleeve with the remaining driving element, and means for driving said shaft by said clutch mechanism.

11. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch operating shaft, a clutch mechanism comprising two sleeves slidable on said shaft, means for urging said sleeves apart, means for limiting the movement of said sleeves away from each other, a wheel and a gear mounted coaxially with respect to said shaft, means for driving said wheel and gear independently, means for moving said clutch mechanism bodily along said shaft to cause driving engagement of one said sleeve with said wheel or of the other sleeve with said gear, and means for preventing relative rotation of said shaft and the sleeves of said clutch mechanism.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CLARENCE W. DALZELL. EDWIN G. LITTLE. 

